For most people, waking up with a sore throat prompts a trip to the medicine cabinet or drugstore for some lozenges or daytime cold medicine. People deal with minor, inconvenient illnesses all the time without visiting their doctors. The problem comes when that sore throat lingers just a little too long or comes with coughing, sneezing and a pounding headache. If that happens, you might be tempted to check in online with Dr. Google, everyone’s favorite universal practitioner, to see if your sore throat is really a precursor to esophageal cancer.
Despite the inner voice of reason begging you to put down the smartphone and head to the clinic, you end up spending hours online researching all of the unlikely possibilities associated with a sore throat. By the time you’re done, you’re sure that this simple sore throat guarantees your immediate demise. There’s a word for this kind of behavior: cyberchondria.
The Modern Hypochondria
Microsoft conducted a survey on people who use the Internet to research symptoms, and the results aren’t so surprising in today’s world of excess information. According to the survey, about
90 percent of responders reported escalated searches based on their symptoms. In other words, they started with a simple search and ended up reading about serious conditions. Cyberchondria stems from the same obsessive behavior that promotes hypochondria, which is a condition that affects as many as 24 million Americans. This condition enhances a person’s medical awareness to the point that he begins obsessing about his symptoms and health status.
If you suffer from hypochondria, then you know what it’s like to face unexpected symptoms with a sense of dread or impending doom. You may find quick relief by searching for your malady online. Unfortunately, relief is only temporary, and cyberchondriacs are much more likely to add insult to injury by attempting to consult with Internet doctors. Continuous research only exacerbates symptoms. Hypochondriacs typically reject initial diagnoses and pursue their symptoms relentlessly in a never-ending cycle.
There is hope for people who over-monitor their health. Aside from seeking professional therapy treatments and anxiety medication, people who suffer from hyper health awareness conditions can take active measures to avoid feeding the flames. For starters, avoid the Internet when you have a medical problem. The doctors online can’t diagnose you, and anecdotes from patients around the world are more likely to hinder than they are to help.
You’re more likely to find examples of botched surgery in a blog post than you are to find reports on successful operations. Brain tumors, incurable cancer and serious side effects of common medications are rare. Recognize that many of the stories that you read about online are posted as anomalies.
Immediate, Reliable Care
Where should you go with an unexpected sore throat? You might call your primary doctor first, which is a good call to make if it’s a weekday and the office can squeeze you in. Unfortunately, not all medical problems happen during business hours. If your sore throat has been lingering without relief for a week, and it’s now Saturday, then you should try your nearest walk-in clinic for help.
Urgent care facilities have sprung up everywhere in the past couple of decades thanks in large part to an increased need for low-cost, immediate care. They serve a specific niche. For people with non-life-threatening emergencies, urgent care centers offer quick relief. Before you spend hours online with Dr. Google, consider taking a short trip to the urgent care center. They can diagnose the problem, prescribe medication and get you back to your life in less time than it would take you to read all of those intimidating articles on tonsillectomy complications. Plus, your bill will be significantly less at an urgent care center than it would be at the hospital.
There are some caveats to keep in mind when it comes to walk-in clinics.
While they can treat many common illnesses, cuts, sprains and minor broken bones, urgent care centers aren’t equipped to handle life-threatening emergencies. Heart attack symptoms, signs of a stroke, severe stomach pain and difficulty breathing all demand a trip to the emergency room.
When to Check in with Dr. Google
Information can be helpful in certain situations. Once you’ve received a diagnosis from a qualified doctor in person, you can use the Internet for supplemental ideas on how to manage symptoms. For example, you might look for natural remedies to deal with strep throat. Taking a proactive stance against misinformation can help you avoid the anxiety of hypochondria. Instead of resorting to consults with online “health experts,” check out your local urgent care center for a legitimate diagnosis first.
